India’s Shubhanshu Shukla became the 634th astronaut to journey to space as he entered the International Space Station on Thursday (June 26, 2025) after a 28-hour journey.
Mr. Shukla and three different astronauts have been formally welcomed on the space station by the members of Expedition 73 with heat hugs and handshakes.
Axiom mission commander Peggy Whitson handed out astronaut pins to Mr. Shukla, Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungarian Tibor Kapu, who marked their maiden voyage to space.
“I am astronaut 634. It is a privilege to be here,” Mr. Shukla mentioned briefly remarks on the formal welcome ceremony within the space station. “With your love and blessings, I have reached the International Space Station. It looks easy to stand here, but my head is a little heavy, facing some difficulty; but these are minor issues,” he mentioned.
“We will get used to it. This is the first step of this journey,” he added.
Mr. Shukla mentioned over the following 14 days, he and the opposite astronauts will conduct scientific experiments and work together with the folks on earth. “This is also a phase of India’s space journey. I will keep talking to you. Let us make this journey exciting. I am carrying the tiranga and I am carrying all of you with me. The next 14 days will be exciting,” he mentioned.
The astronaut mentioned the experience to the space station was fantastic and nice and he was overwhelmed by the welcome he obtained from the crew of the orbital laboratory. “The minute I entered the International Space Station and met this crew, you just made me feel so welcome, as if you literally opened your doors, like your house doors, for us,” he mentioned.
“That is true. It was fantastic. I just feel even better now. Whatever expectations I had of coming here were surpassed by the view, of course, that is a big part of it, but also by you guys,” Mr. Shukla mentioned.
“So thank you so much. I think this is fantastic, this is wonderful and I am very confident that the next 14 days are going to be amazing, advancing science and research, and working together,” he added.
In Shukla’s hometown in Lucknow, his dad and mom and family, academics, associates, scores of scholars and onlookers greeted the profitable docking with a standing ovation.
